Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens Predictions, Odds, Picks

Oct. 17, 2021
Joe Williams
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Los Angeles Chargers (4-1) make the cross-country trek for another marquee battle in the AFC against the Baltimore Ravens (4-1) at M&T Bank Stadium for a Week 6 game Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and the game will be shown on CBS.

Score Prediction

Ravens 34, Chargers 30

Best Bets

Ravens ML

Over

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens Predictions

The Chargers outlasted the Cleveland Browns last week at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in Week 5, winning 47-42 to cover as 2.5-point favorites. Those who backed the Chargers, both on the money line and laying the points, were very fortunate to cash a ticket in a seesaw battle which was absolutely wild. It was the first OVER result after four consecutive UNDER results. In fact, they would have pushed on the total had the Browns not scored a single point.

The Ravens did a little outlasting of their own, and then some. On Monday night, they were pushed to the limit by the visiting Indianapolis Colts, down 22-3 at one point, as the offense was stuck in neutral. But the defensive backs for the Colts were dropping like flies, and QB Lamar Jackson was putting points on the board at a feverish pace to force overtime. They ended up winning 31-25 in OT, a fourth straight victory.

It will be the second trip to the Eastern Time Zone for the Chargers. It’s first trip was successful, winning 20-16 in Washington back in Week 1, covering as 2.5-point underdogs.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds

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Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens Betting Resources

  • Matchup: AFC West vs. AFC North
  • Date: Sunday, October 17, 2021
  • Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
  • Location: Baltimore, Maryland
  • TV-Time: CBS - 1:00 p.m. ET


Los Angeles Chargers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 4-1
  • ATS: 4-1
  • O/U: 1-4
  • ATS - Home: 2-1
  • ATS - Away: 2-0

As mentioned, QB Justin Herbert and the Chargers won that game in D.C. before falling 20-17 against Dallas in Week 2. Since then, the offense has been a well-oiled machine, and that’s in three consecutive AFC marquee games. They won in Kansas City as 6.5-point underdogs, topping the Chiefs 30-24. In a battle against the previous unbeaten Las Vegas Raiders, they doubled up the 'Silver and Black' 28-14 at SoFi on Monday night.

The Bolts rolled up 381 passing yards and 112 rushing yards against the Browns, while yielding 531 total yards. That includes 230 rushing yards, which is problematic when going up against Jackson. The Chargers also allowed 126 return yards.

L.A. ranks seventh with 411.4 total yards per game, while passing for 303.0 yards per game to check in third. The Bolts are also sixth with 28.4 PPG, while ranking just 17th rushing the football with 108.4 yards per game.

Defensively, L.A. is so-so, allowing 371.8 total yards per game to rank 19th . They’re also dead-last with 157.6 rushing yards per game, so Jackson will be looking to run early and often. He likely won’t have much success through the air, as the Ravens are seventh in the league with 214.2 yards per game.

Baltimore Ravens Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 4-1
  • ATS: 2-3
  • O/U: 3-2
  • ATS - Home: 1-1
  • ATS - Away: 1-2

The Ravens have a 4-1 SU mark, while going just 2-3 ATS. They very well could be 1-4 SU at this point, but they’re not. Good teams find a way to win, even if it isn’t pretty.

They edged the Chiefs 36-35 in Week 2, erasing an 11-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter on Sunday Night Football. In Week 3, they scraped by the Detroit Lions in a controversial ending. The play clock reportedly went to zeroes, but the Ravens got a play off to set up a game-winning 66-yard field goal at the buzzer to make NFL history.

They scored just one touchdown against the win-less Lions to win. After thrashing the Broncos in Denver, they returned home to lay an egg against Indy before pulling it out of the fire.

Baltimore is 5-1 ATS in the past six against winning teams, and 4-1 ATS in the past five at home. However, they are 0-5 ATS in the past five at home against teams with a winning road mark.


The road team has covered the spread in five straight games played between the Chargers and Ravens. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Los Angeles Chargers

  • Record: 4-1
  • Division Standing: 1st - AFC West
  • Points Scored: 142
  • Points Allowed: 116
  • PS/G: 28.4 (6th)
  • PA/G: 23.2 (12th)

Inside the Stats - Baltimore Ravens

  • Record: 4-1
  • Division Standing: 1st - AFC North
  • Points Scored: 136
  • Points Allowed: 117
  • PS/G: 27.2 (9th)
  • PA/G: 23.4 (14th)

Key Players to Watch

  • LAC: Justin Herbert - QB (139/207, 1,576 yards, 13 TD, 3 INT)
  • LAC: Mike Williams - WR (31 catches, 471 yards, 6 TD)
  • BAL: Lamar Jackson - QB (112/167, 1,860 total yards, 10 Total TDs, 3 INT)
  • BAL: Marquise Brown - WR (28 catches, 451 yards, 5 TD)

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens Betting Conclusion

I 'm concerned about the Chargers, as they face a fourth consecutive difficult AFC opponent. How can they fire it up and play with a high level of intensity for a fourth straight week. Eventually even a great team is going to have a letdown.

I'm also very concerned about the inability of Los Angeles to stop the run, especially facing the likes of Jackson. While he proved, yet again, to all the haters, he is more than just a run-first quarterback, throwing for a career-high 442 yards while leading the team with 62 rushing yards. He also completed 37-of-43 passes, or 86 percent of his attempts. He is the first quarterback in NFL history to complete better than 85 percent of his passes while throwing for at least 400 yards.

Jackson has combined for 1,860 passing and rushing yards this season, which is higher than 18 other NFL teams. That’s what the Chargers are trying to stop. And they’re awful against the run. That will be the difference on Sunday.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens Betting Trends

  • Los Angeles has gone UNDER the point total in four of its last five games.
  • Los Angeles has covered the spread in four of its last five games.
  • Los Angeles has covered the spread in four of its last six games when facing Baltimore.
  • Baltimore has gone UNDER the point total in six of its last nine games.
  • Baltimore has covered the spread in four of its last five home games.

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